Trav

I don't know the specifics but from what I gather it is upgrade work.

The bigger bass in this cold water will most likely be more active in the muddy water. The dark water absorbs sunshine faster and it warms up in the afternoon. Look for timber, the bigger the better. They like to snuggle up to the wood to stay warm as well.

Thanks for the report! Sounds like the water is still pretty cold.

I do just as well in both arms. I will focus more on the Pomme arm during high water and in the spring. There are more pea gravel shores to play with. I like Lindly in the heat of the summer. There are more mid lake humps to work on.

Some things never change....or grow up...

We can pretend we are a bunch of anarchist and lump all things government as bad…actually have a nice discussion without choking on some brainwashed belief…

MDC can do contract stocking. I have worked at a few hatcheries before...

I hear you …Know exactly how you feel. It sucks to even think about it. However, that is what it will be when the hatcheries close and they get leased out. That is what the government does to property they own. They use it or lease it. I personally think it will mean the state hatcheries will expand their facilities. There will always be the state parks. And they will also stock the tail waters if the feds leave. They are already doing it to a degree anyway. Missouri takes pride in trout. Of course this makes me think a lot more 4 and 6 inch trout.?

There it is...the right wing/left wing debate coms out. I still think the subject is about the world with or without hatchery fish....lol Anyway....back to the subject....The Dams don’t have to be barren wastelands without trout…The water coming out of the Dams are what? I think 42 to 58 degrees depending on the time of year. Smallies spawn in water temps of 55 to 60. In Canada, they spawn in water as low as 50 degrees. White bass spawn in water between 50 and 55 degrees. In Wisconsin they will spawn in 45 degree water. Walleye spawn in 40 to 45 degree water. Muskies spawn in water between 48 and 59 degree water. Northern Pike spawn in 35 to 40 degree water. There are species which will fill the void of stocked trout if properly managed.

Oh boy, why does every discussion on here turn into a nit pick ? I stand corrected on the definition of "native"...I should have said "wild". All the same, I believe the discussion is about the actual impact of losing these programs. To loose a fishery which can’t even sustain itself without a never-ending supply of tax money seems a no brainer to me. This article emphasizes the economic outcome of the loss and I am saying the ramifications would be far less substantial than it claims. Tourism will not be affected by 300 million dollars because people will just fish for other species. Plus, how much of this so-called 300 million also incorporates the rest of the fishing tourism not oriented to trout? There is more to the fisheries program than raising fish tank trout. Cutting 12 million dollars from the budget doesn’t mean they get 12 million less….it just means they have more money to better achieve other goals already in the works. I only mentioned privatization of the hatcheries in the event the Government shuts the door on their funding, as an option to maintain the facilities. Have the people who really want it, pay for it. As far as privatizing pushing up the cost to fishing? Big deal…A person will pay hundreds of dollars on gear, hundreds more for lodging, fuel and food if they are coming in from out of the area, but they won’t spend 30 or even 50 dollars to catch a fish someone has raised to increase the chances for them to have successful trip? Jeesh…some people even pay hundreds of dollars on a guy to show them how to catch them…people won’t think too much about the cost. And Zach, privatizing hatcheries will help your bottom line. The private sector pays much better. Not to mention, if these cuts open the door to hiring more biologists for non-salmonidae species there will be a demand in the field you’re studying.

There are a few small streams in the Ozarks where trout are native and still spawn naturally....Crane Creek for example. If the hatcheries go private the trout could still be caught as a pay to play fishery. Also...there are ways to assist a natural spawn. Ladders around dams have been proven to work out west. Maybe trout should be off limits until something like that can be developed and implimented. The real issue with trout and a natural spawn has to do with lack of proper food source. Many places where trout are stocked just can't support a population. I am not afraid of a hoard of trout fishermen going after native species...haha...our native populations are quite healthy. As far as creel limits...a totally different subject. I think certain species should be exclusively catch and release. But like I said....totally different subject....

I have been pretty good at avoiding political based conversations as of late and this looks to be a topic which will quickly turn into a blame game. So, I will just throw this out there in hopes this doesn't turn into the battle of the two extremes. This is a great subject if we can steer clear of politics and keep it based on the actual impact these hatcheries have. My two pennies….. Why stock a species of fish which have no possibility of being self sustaining? In effect, isn’t it just another form of a government cheese? I mean…isn’t it the same as the government maintaining a huge fish tank? Let’s not forget, there are plenty of dollars being made off of fishing without government stocked hatchery fish. I don’t think the loss of government support of these hatcheries will have as big of an impact as it is being perceived. If it is so profitable to stock fish just for angling purposes then why not privatize the hatcheries? You would think the businesses profiting from them would be willing to protect their livelihood, with or without the government support. Wouldn’t our tax dollars for conservation be more effectively spent on developing and protecting spawning areas for fish? Let nature do its course? I am not against the idea of having a stocking program. Just saying it would make sense to do so by establishing naturally reproducing populations instead of having some fish in the barrel for the tourists.

No offense but some of us have pics on other servers as a means to share large collectons. Social network sites like facebook provide an excellent place to do this. Especially if you are posting on multiple forums.

Chop it down and be done with it. If asked about it...deny deny deny. Haha....I am curious to the story behind this evil tree....

Most people I know use a thermastat light. When it get belows the set temp, the light comes on and the bulb heats up the air in the crawl space.

you should read up on some of the older archive posts....lots to learn...

aw shucks....to be honest...I think Drew said it right...you can be gone a month or two and when you check back it is always comforting the talk has done nothing but recycled itself ten different times but still managed to stay the same.. I try to spare you guys from my quarky sense of humor.. ...we all know if Trav isn't talking about fish he is just stirring the pot most the time anyway....

Same here....was glad I keep my boat in the garage...

You can go to your profile and change it to whatever you want it to say......

Mine too....if I go a week or so without getting on OAF I could have a hundred or so...

Be sure to let us know how well you do with the whites. I havn't heard of any numbers being caught out of Pomme in a year or so. Anyone else notice this besides me?

I am not concerned about how long it takes them to do the dam work. I prefer to see the lake high and out of its banks during and after the spawn. Increases the survival ratio of new fry. After all...a good spawn in high water means more fish in the future.

Phew....

Muddy water absorbs heat better. A little color with some sunshine will have those deeper fish moving up.

Using what gives you confidence is always the best route to start with....